Extensible step for cars



(No Model.)

W. H. VOSS.

' EXTENSIBLE STEP FOR CARS.

No. 481,658. Patented Aug. 30, 1892'.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM HENRY VOSS, OF EAST STROUDSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

EXTENSIBLE STEP FOR CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 481,658, dated August30, 1892.

Application fil d May 16, 1892. Serial No. 433,201- (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM HENRY Voss, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at East Stroudsburg, in the county of Monroe andState of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Extensible Steps, of which the following is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention is an improvement in carsteps and is designed to provide anadditional step for use when occasion requires and to render unnecessarythe lowering of the tracks in stations or the use of the movablebox-steps ordinarily provided by the porters for shortening theconsiderable space between the lower fixed step of the cars asordinarily constructed and the platform.

Various forms of extensible steps have been provided prior to myinvention; but these have been usually complex, requiring additionaloperating mechanism and the addi tional lever or levers, and have beenobjectionable for this and other reasons.

My object is to provide an additional step, which may be folded out ofthe way when not required for use and capable of being thrown into useimmediately by the porter or any unskilled person.

While I have described the invention as applied to a railway-car, I donot limit myself in this connection, as the invention is capable of useupon other kinds of vehicles, such as wagons, carriages, omnibuses, andthe like.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is aperspective view of the stepextended. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the step and its hanger. Fig. 3 isadetail View of the end of a car with my improved step attached.

In the drawings, A represents the fixed step, which is the lowest of theseries, and it may represent any fixed step in a railway-car or othervehicle. An additional step is made up of a vertical and horizontalportion constituting a single step, and this step is secured to hangersa, which hangers have upper rounded ends constituting bearings which arejournaled on a rod 1), which has its bearings in hangers secured to thefixed step, these hangers being shown at c. This rod has an additionalbearing in a third hanger cl, secured to the step, and the rod issecured to the hangers b by pins 1,passing through the same into therod, and it will thus be seen that the rod has longitudinal movement inits bearings in the hanger secured to the fixed step, and thislongitudinal movement of the rod moves the extensible step in likemanner. The opposing faces of the hangers b c are notched, as shown, soas to form interlocking parts when the steps are in normal condition,and these locking-faces are kept together to maintain the steps eitheropen or closed by means of the spring 2, which encircles the rod and isinterposed between the face of the hanger d and the face of the hangerZ). The rod terminates in a suitable handle, which projects to one sideof the step, and it will be seen that bygrasping this handle and drawingit out the spring is compressed and the extensible step isdrawnlaterally with the rod until it is out of line of the projectionson the hanger c, and then the extensible step is permitted to be turnedwith the pivoted rod either into position to be used as an additionalstep or folded under the fixed step out of the way.

I have shown a projection 4 on each of the fixed hangers c, engagingnotches 5 in the face of the movable hangers; but this construction maybe reversed, if desired.

It will be observed that the recesses and lugs are provided with beveledfaces, making practically a dovetail connection, which I have found tobe a desirable construction.

I claim as my invention- 1. In combination with a fixed step providedwith suitable hangers, a movable step pivoted thereto by a suitable rod,and hangers secured to the movable step and secured to the said rod, thesaid hangers being provided with locking-faces engaging each ether, saidpivoted rod being capable of longitudinal movement with the folded step,so as to disengage the locking-faces of the hangers and to permit thestep to be turned, substantially as described.

2. In combination with a fixed step, han,,- longitudinallyoagainst thepressure of the ers carried thereby, a movable step pivoted spring,substantially as described. 10 by means of a rod to the fixed stepthrough In testimonywhereof Iaffix my signature in suitable hangers, thehangers of the fixed step presence of two witnesses.

5 being provided with locking-faces and a WILLIAM HENRY VOSS.

spring for keeping the faces in engagement, Witnesses: the said rodbeing secured to the hangers of OLIVER HEATER, the movable step andadapted to be moved W. W. WARNE.

